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Chris Duphily
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« on: December 09, 2008, 05:03:28 PM » |
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I hope the short video works here, I apologize for the poor quality in advance but I have NEVER had my CO detector rise this dramatically when testing ambient air (the air in our normal living space). Background: A client's CO monitors started alarming Sunday morning, she called 911 and the fire co. came out immediately. She shut both heating systems down - 1: Oil fired furnace located in the basement and 1: Coal stove located in the living room. She then opened the windows to air out the house. Fire dept. was there in minutes, they started the units and had no measurable readings. They leave, saying it might be a low battery in the co monitors (mind you this lady has Four CO monitors within 800 sq ft of living space). Monday everything seems fine to her except for a slight smell of Sulfur, Today she awakes to the CO monitors going off again. She see's My ad specifying CO testing and calls me. I turn my CO monitor on outside and let it go through it's one min. calibration (highest calibration limit I could set). Upon entering the home I had a 27 - 34 ppm reading, I test the air around the flue of the coal stove (Installed this past summer) and my co detector climbs to over 500 ppm in under 2 min. Shut unit down advise to have chimney and unit thoroughly inspected and a co test performed after repairs are made. (Oil fired furnace was also tested with no co leakage noted). Video: AGAIN this video was NOT taken in the flue, this was in ambient air 3" from the flue pipe - where the flue fits into the collar of the stove.  Overview of coal stove    Reading of ambient air 1ft. from flue  Ambient reading taken 3' off the floor and approximately 18' from the stove.  Ambient reading taken 7' off the floor approximately 18' from stove. Where do you want your CO Detector installed?!?!  |
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« Last Edit: December 09, 2008, 05:09:28 PM by a2zpa »
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Chris Duphily
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« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2008, 06:12:44 PM » |
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Chimney cap prevented me from checking the chimney lining for blockages.
Note the soot on the brick wall where the flue enters the chimney and the soot under the harman logo. This inspection was only for the presence of CO so no intrusive testing was performed. That being said, I'll bet my last dollar that the flue or chimney is blocked.
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Dale Duffy
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« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2008, 06:30:51 PM » |
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Good Lord, it's a wonder someone didn't die...!!!!
Good job Chris...!!!
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Jim McKee
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« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2008, 07:12:52 PM » |
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Wow that was something Chris....lucky for them You came along....those kind of readings can kill for sure....
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Chris Duphily
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« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2008, 07:25:22 PM » |
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Well that one is going up on my site.
Thanks guys
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Carl Brown
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« Reply #5 on: December 09, 2008, 09:13:23 PM » |
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Wow !!!
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If it was your house wouldn't you want it done right!
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Chris Duphily
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« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2008, 06:49:11 PM » |
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Wow !!!
That was one of many things I thought of while watching the readings skyrocket! |
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Jim McKee
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« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2008, 07:44:46 PM » |
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Wow !!!
That was one of many things I thought of while watching the readings skyrocket! personally i'd have been thinking run rabbit run!!!!! |
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Chris Duphily
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« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2008, 08:20:32 PM » |
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Wow !!!
That was one of many things I thought of while watching the readings skyrocket! personally i'd have been thinking run rabbit run!!!!! Good movie ...instant cult classic!  I called the client today to see how she made out with the installation company. They are sending a guy out on friday.... better than not sending one at all I guess. |
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Jay Markanich
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« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2008, 08:33:11 PM » |
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Smart girl having all those detectors in there. It's a wonder she wasn't sick. Plants dying in the house?
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Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia www.jaymarinspect.comFestina Lente - Make Haste Slowly |
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Chris Duphily
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« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2008, 09:50:38 PM » |
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Smart girl having all those detectors in there. It's a wonder she wasn't sick. Plants dying in the house?
Hi Jay, Honestly, I didn;t notice the plants. I was surprized that her two cats seemed ok though. I'm going to keep in contact with her just to make sure the problem is resolved before she lights that damn stove again.... even if I have to take the chimney cap off and disconnect the damn flue myself. No I won't really do that ...but I still want to! |
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Frank Carey
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« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2008, 10:27:18 PM » |
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Good find my friend. Might be a good idea to purchase one of those myself finally!!
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Jay Markanich
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« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2008, 05:00:47 AM » |
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In addition to the chimney cap, it looks like the whole vent tubing needs removal inside at the connection of the stove to the chimney to see what is going on down low. Could be some spalling or mortar has come down and has partially blocked the exhaust opening. Or a faulty damper inside the stove.
My kids had gerbils years ago and I decided to bomb the attic space two floors above to get rid of bee nests. The gerbils died. Tells you how toxic that stuff is, literally nerve gas. Yes, I am surprised her cats are okay too. I understand that the smaller the body the quicker O2 is replaced by CO and cells die. What is the danger level, about 400ppm? The way your detector moved in that video was frightful.
When I was a Boy Scout a couple of centuries ago I was riding to a camping trip in the back of a car with a hole in the floor. By the time we got to camp I was sick and stayed sick all night. No one connected it to CO poisoning, thinking it was the flu or something. It makes you really, really sick. The low grade symptoms are headache, nausea, joint pain, generally feeling weak and sickly, and I am surprised that lady was not feeling like that. But -- four detectors, smart lady.
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Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia www.jaymarinspect.comFestina Lente - Make Haste Slowly |
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Chris Duphily
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« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2008, 02:45:21 PM » |
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In addition to the chimney cap, it looks like the whole vent tubing needs removal inside at the connection of the stove to the chimney to see what is going on down low. Could be some spalling or mortar has come down and has partially blocked the exhaust opening. Or a faulty damper inside the stove.
My kids had gerbils years ago and I decided to bomb the attic space two floors above to get rid of bee nests. The gerbils died. Tells you how toxic that stuff is, literally nerve gas. Yes, I am surprised her cats are okay too. I understand that the smaller the body the quicker O2 is replaced by CO and cells die. What is the danger level, about 400ppm? The way your detector moved in that video was frightful.
When I was a Boy Scout a couple of centuries ago I was riding to a camping trip in the back of a car with a hole in the floor. By the time we got to camp I was sick and stayed sick all night. No one connected it to CO poisoning, thinking it was the flu or something. It makes you really, really sick. The low grade symptoms are headache, nausea, joint pain, generally feeling weak and sickly, and I am surprised that lady was not feeling like that. But -- four detectors, smart lady.
Absolutely every part of the system needs to be thoroughly inspected. That being said, I still feel it's a blockage somewhere in the vent system forcing the CO back through the weakest points i the stove/flue. The danger level depends on the occupants, ages, health. - Traditional store bought CO detectors will alarm anywhere from 60 - 75 ppm. with a constant alarm at 200 ppm. There are some graphs available but they are really just general opinions from different sources. www.carbonmonoxidekills.com is a site I like. For me ANY CO reading is an "action level" if it's expelling co into the living space at low levels then what is going to happen when the system slowly degrades to the point where the co level rises to the point where someone in the family...or their pet(s) are seriously affected? The CPSC states maintained levels above 150 - 200 ppm can lead to unconsciousness and death. |
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Chris Duphily
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« Reply #14 on: January 16, 2009, 08:27:40 PM » |
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